George Jacobs
George Jacobs, P.E. is President and CEO of George
Jacobs & Associates, Inc. He received his first FCC
license in 1941, and the year 2003 marks his 62nd year in
broadcast engineering. He spent more than three decades
in Government Service where he combined outstanding
engineering talents and diplomacy with a fierce belief in the
free flow of information. He was a pioneer in the development
of the world-wide broadcasting system of the Voice of
America, and the post 1974 modernization of Radio Free
Europe and Radio Liberty broadcasting facilities. Jacobs is
also recognized as an expert in the international regulatory aspects
of broadcasting, having served as a member of US Delegations
to almost every major broadcasting conference convened
by the International Telecommunication Union since 1949.
Retiring from Government Service in 1980 with the rank
of Senior Federal Executive, he formed his own consulting
engineering organization, George Jacobs &Associates, Inc.
It specializes in international broadcasting, and has been
responsible for the conceptive design, regulatory application
and frequency management of some of the world's most powerful,
privately owned shortwave broadcast facilities extending from the
Atlantic Coast of Maine to the Pacific Coast of Palau. These
include the shortwave stations of the Christian Science Publishing
Society, the Guam-based shortwave facilities of Adventist
World Radio, the world-wide shortwave networks of LeSea
Broadcasting and High Adventure Ministries, the 500 kW facilities
of the Eternal Word Radio Network (WEWN), the shortwave
outlet of the Trinity Broadcasting. Network (KTBN), as well
as FCC-licensed international broadcast stations WRNO
and WBCQ.
The company is also engaged in other state of the art
broadcasting techniques including webcasting, direct-to-home
satellite audio broadcasting, terrestrial AM, FM and Cable
affiliations for international broadcasters and the brokerage
of time on some of the world's most powerful shortwave transmitters.
George Jacobs & Associates, Inc. has also acted as broker in the
sale of a number of shortwave stations, and is presently the exclusive
brokers for the sale of two additional stations.
President Reagan appointed Jacobs to the Presidential Commission
on Broadcasting to Cuba, where he actively participated in the birth
and conceptive design of Radio Marti. As a contractual consultant
he participated in the design of a new VOA station in Thailand and
in a large U.S. Government station that was to have been located in
Israel. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Jacobs was involved
in the development of the OPEN RADIO in Moscow, Russia
converting a Soviet jamming transmitter into a successful Russian
entrepreneurial venture. George Jacobs & Associates, Inc. also
participated in the conversion of shortwave jamming transmitters
into broadcast transmitters in the Republic of Georgia.
Jacobs has authored hundreds of technical articles which have
appeared in several dozen publications, and he is co-author of
a popular handbook dealing with shortwave radio propagation.
In 2001 he retired after 50 years as Radio Propagation Editor
of CQ Magazine, He has contributed annually to the prestigious
World Radio TV Handbook since 1962. He is also actively engaged
in shortwave radio as a hobby. His callsign W3ASK has been heard
and is well known throughout the world since 1941.
He has a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, and is licensed
as a Professional Engineer in DC and Maryland. He is a Fellow in
both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the
Radio Club of America. His biographical sketch appears in Who's
Who in America, Who's Who in the World , and in Who's Who
in Media and Communications. In 2003 his sketch was selected for
inclusion in the new 7th Edition of Who’s Who in Science and
Engineering. Recognized world-wide for his achievements, Jacobs
is the recipient of numerous awards for his government service and
from his peers. These include a Superior Honor Award and an
Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Government,
the Marconi Gold Medal for excellence in Engineering, and the
Jack Poppele Broadcast Award for his long term contributions to
the development of international broadcasting. He is also the
recipient of the prestigious Radio Engineering Achievement Award
from the National Association of Broadcasters for lifetime
leadership in broadcast engineering. In 2001, to mark his
60th anniversary in broadcast engineering, he was inducted into
the CQ Radio Hall of Fame. During the second World War Jacobs
pioneered the use of electronics navigational systems. He was awarded
the Air Medal for B-17 combat service in Europe with the US 8th Air Force.
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Bob German is the youngest member of the George
Jacobs & Associates, Inc. Engineering team.
He attended the Technical University of Vienna, Austria
and the Electronic Technical Institute in Denver.
He brings to GJA almost 25 years of both hands-on
technical experience in international broadcasting, as well
as outstanding ability and experience in computer science.
He began his technical career with Radio Austria in
1972. He returned to the USA in 1980, where for nine years
he held responsible engineering positions with several
American companies, developing both hardware and software for
use in the field of broadcasting. In 1989 he joined
International Broadcast Station WSHB as a Chief Transmitter
Engineer. In 1991 he joined the Eternal Word Television
Network in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was Project Director
with responsibility for all aspects of design, construction
and operation of a four 500 kW International Broadcast
Station. He joined GJA in March, 1993.
At GJA he is mainly responsible for computer
applications to frequency management. He has successfully
developed unique computer software programs for establishing
what we believe to be the world's most complete and up-to-
date shortwave broadcast frequency database. He has also
written and developed software for an overall computer
program called "The Frequency Manager" which combines all
elements involved in frequency management into a single,
comprehensive program. This program has made it possible
for GJA to conduct more in depth frequency searches,
propagation studies and coverage estimates than was
previously possible. German has also developed the software
and assembled the hardware for the ROBOSCAN automatic remote
monitoring station locating in the Washington, D.C. station.
This installation has proven to be popular with a large
number of overseas radio stations for checking live reception
of their broadcast to eastern North America with a simple
telephone call. The receiver is controlled with telephone
touch tones.
Bob German also backs up both George Jacobs and Anne
Case in day-to-day operations at GJA.
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Extensive experience in Telecommunications with
special expertise in management and development of
international shortwave broadcasting systems,
international negotiations, operational high frequency
propagation analysis and planning operational shortwave
broadcasting systems:
As an Engineering Official with the voice of America
for more than twenty five years, participated in the
conceptional design of the VOA worldwide network, as well
as in its modernization, and in all aspects of managing
the operational system. While Deputy for Operations of
the voice of America, planned, directed and managed the
operation of the VOA Worldwide Network of short and medium
wave facilities, consisting of more than 100 transmitters
at fourteen stations around the world with a staff of more
than two thousand employees.
After retiring from the VOA in 1984 have continued to
work in shortwave broadcasting as a Broadcast Consultant.
For the past ten years have been associated with George
Jacobs & Associates. Have participated in the planning of
a number of the world's most powerful shortwave
broadcasting stations conducting in depth studies to
determine the feasibility of the aims of the clients prior
to construction of the station. On an operational basis,
conducts propagation analysis and plans radio frequency
requirements for privately-owned shortwave broadcasting
organizations, including WRNO, Worldwide, New Orleans,
LeSea Broadcasting, Noblesville, Indiana; High Adventure
Radio, Los Angeles, California, Trinity Broadcasting, Salt
Lake City, Utah; Adventist World Radio, Washington, D.C.;
and the Christian science Publishing Society, Boston, Mass.
- over please -
In the international field, have participated
in the preparation for international conferences of
the International Telecommunication Union, and
served as a member of the U. S. Delegation to the
World Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva 1979
and to the Regional Administrative MF Broadcasting
Conference (Region 2), Rio, 1981. Organized the
first international frequency coordination committee
of major international shortwave broadcasting
organizations to coordinate frequency requirements.
--Other professional activities include:
Frequency Manager, Radio Free Europe
International Analyst, Telecommunications
Division, Department of State.
Captain, U.S. Army Signal Corp.
--EDUCATION
BS--Business Administration, Louisiana State
University
MS--Telecommunications, George Washington University
--PUBLICATIONS
Articles in the World Radio Television Handbook
--HONORS AND AWARDS
USIA Meritorious Honor Award
USIA Outstanding Performance Award
Army Meritorious Service Award